Metal flume.



A. J. WILEY. METAL PLUME.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1911.

1,01 9,871 Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w'ifneesses w MW A. J. WILEY.

METAL PLUME.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 0, 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW J. WILEY, OF BOISE, IDAHO.

METAL FLUME.

Application filed June 9, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. IVILEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boise, in the county of Ada and State of Idaho, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Flumes, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in metal flumes and refersparticularly to that type of flumes in which a thin metal shell is usedfor conveying water for irrigation, power or other purposes, the metalshell forming the carrying channel being made in successive sections ofproper curvature and joined together to make a continuous channel.

The special feature of my metal flume is the joint between successivesections. To facilitate erection the joints should be made withoutrivets or bolts; to allow for expansion and contraction they should havea certain amount of flexibility; to give a high coefficient of dischargethey should present a smooth interior surface. They should add a certainamount of lateral stiffness to the thin shell of the flume, and theyshould be capable of adaptation to any ordinary horizontal or verticalcurve without the use of special joints or splices. In addition to theabove it important that the strength of the thin shell should beincreased by stiffening its longitudinal edges and preventing theirtendency to buckle between points of support.

To attain the objects stated my invention broadly stated consists of afiume composed of sections having their edges connected by a joint whichwill allow for contraction and expansion but will be proof againstdamage or breakage.

The invention further consists of a metal flume composed of a series ofsections and a novel form of adjustable and accommodating joint, for thesections.

The invention further consists of a metal flume embodying novel featuresof construction and combination of parts for service substantially asdisclosed herein.

In order that the detailed construction of my metal flume may be fullyunderstood and its many advantages be appreciated I have illustrated inthe accompanying drawing a metal flume constructed in accordance withand embodying my invention.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sufficlent portion of acomplete flume to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 632,289.

.illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional viewof the complete flume. Fig. 3 represents a detail sectional view of oneside of the flume showing the construction of my novel form of joint forthe tlumc sections. Fig. i represents an elevation on an enlarged scaleshowing the complete joint at one side of the flume. Fig. 5 represents aperspective view of the joint or connection for the flume sections, andFig. 6 represents an enlarged perspective view of one of the clamping orhearing plates to fully show its detailed construction.

Referring by numeral to the drawings in which similar characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views: The numeral 1designates the posts or uprights; 2 the longitudinal rails; 3 the braceslead-- ing from the posts to the rails, 1: and 5 the transverse bracesand 6 the flume supports, the whole structure forming the frame of theflume.

The flume proper is composed of the se ries of curved sections 7 of thinsheet metal, to the ends of which contiguous with their top edges aresecured the channeled bracing irons or strips 8. These channeled stripsare rigidly secured by the series of longi tudinally disposed rivets orbolts 9, and the parallel walls 10 of the strips near their meeting endsare formed with alining open ings 11, which receive the rods 12, havingheads 13, bearing upon the lower walls of the strips the upper portionsof the rods 12 passing through the flume supports 6, and having thehearing or clamping plates 14 and upon their threaded ends 15, thesecuring nuts 16. From this construction it will be seen that I providea flume composed of a series of similar curved sections which are firmlysupported from the frame, and in the spaces between the flume sectionsis placed the curved rib 17, formed with the lateral wings or sides 18,and in use the rib fits snugly between the ends of the flume sectionsand the wings or sides rest flush or smooth against the inner face ofthe flume sections and to rigidly secure the rib and wings thereof Iprovide the novel clamping and securing plate 19, which has the opening20 to receive the clamping rods 12 and is formed with the channel orgroove 21, which engages the wings or sides of the rib and rigidlysecures the rib in position. It will be understood that the rods can beadjusted to clamp the ribs as firmly as desired, also that the ribs maybe of curved, inclined or flat shape as desired.

Among the advantages of my invention are its carrying capacity as theinterior of the flume is free from rivets or other projections, so thatit will have a low coefiicient of friction and a high dischargecapacity; its vertical strength as the reinforcing of the edges of themetal sheets by a member strong enough to transmit the weight of theload to the ends of the section dispenses with intermediate supports andsimplifies the construction; provision for expansion and contraction asthe grooved joint takes care of the expansion and contraction betweeneach section so that the movement required at the joints is extremelysmall; rigidity and tightness as motion due to expansion and contractionbeing taken care of by the bending in the expansion joint, there is nomovement between the shell and the splice rib, which insures thepermanency and tightness of this joint; provision for curvature andshape is one of the special advantages of this flume since it can bemade to fit any curvature, either horizontal or vertical, withoutprevious provision having been made for the curvature, so that the flumecan be laid as cheaply on a curve as on a straight line, the curvaturebeing taken care of at each joint, the angles between the chords aresmall and the flow of water is more regular than in fiumes with specialjoints for curvature; regularity of shape or form as the groove in thesplice ribs gives great strength to the circular form in which it isrolled, and this insures a true circular shape to the shell of thefiume. In short this invention secures a smooth interior, surface, itprovides for expansion and contraction; it secures great lateralstiffness; and it provides for either horizontal or vertical curvature.It also gives such stiffness to the thin shell that it dispenses withintermediate supports between the joints, and is simple, inexpensive andis efficient and practical from every point of view.

I claim:

1. In a metal flume, the combination of a thin shell composed of metalsections curved in a semi-circular shape, metal plates or strips securedto the ends of the said sections, hangers connected to said strips, anda curved rib forming the joint between the sections.

2. In a flume for conveying water, the combination of a thin metal shellcurved in a semi-circular shape with channeled strips attachedlongitudinally to each end to strengthen the shell and dispense withintermediate supports.

3. In a flume for carrying water, the combination of a thin metal shellhaving attached strengthening channeled strips along the horizontalends, with hangers at each end for carrying the weight of the flume tothe supporting structure.

4. In a flume for conveying water, the combination with the successivesections of curved metal suspended'by'hangers from a structure ofinterior centrally grooved metal joint members secured to the sections,and means for securing said joint members and metal sections together.

5. In a flume for conveying water, the combination with the shell havingthe curved metal sections, of the channeled plates secured to the endsof the sections, the hangers connected to said plates, the joint memberssecured to the sections. and means for securing said joint members andmetal sections together.

6. In a flume for conveying water, the combination of a thin metal shellof semi circular shape made in separate sections, a grooved metal spliceof semi-circular shape, channeled plates secured to the ends of saidsections, and means for securing said grooved metal splice and sectionstogether.

7 A metal fiume composed of curved sections, channeled plates secured tothe ends of said sections, ribs between said sections and having Wings,and threaded bolts having plates engaging said wings whereby the unionof the said sections and ribs is made.

8. A metal flume, composed of sections, metal plates or strips securedto the ends of the sections, hangers connected to said strips, and acurved rib forming the joint between the sections.

9. A. metal flume, composed of sections, a curved rib between thesections, plates engaging and securing the rib to the ends of thesections and means for securing the plates and supporting the sections.

10. In a metal flume, the combination of the curved sections, thechanneled plates at the ends of the sections, the ribs bet-ween thesections having wings, the plates engaging the wings, and the clampingand.

supporting means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. WILEY. lVitnesses WALKER S.-BRUcE, SIDNEY C. FULD.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

